Fork in the Road between starving and thriving artist

Ever feel like your blank page or blank canvas is plotting against your happiness? Fear not, fellow artist! Embrace the quirks, work with your imperfections and enjoy the chaos. Because in a future of perfect AI creations, humans are going to be able to provide a little humanity with their imperfections, spelling errors and lived experiences. Experiment with colors like a mischievous rainbow. Don’...

After buying our cafe/art gallery almost one year ago, I’ve virtually had no time to relax. The business was open seven days a week and open from six every morning. So I’ve been working those hours as well as being a husband and parent to our two young girls. Needless to say my illustration work has been on the back burner for a good part of that year. Only recently I’ve been finding time to get b...

I should be finishing my kids book, but instead I’m writing this blog post. One word I’d like to give up is should, ‘I should really do that’ . The word ‘should’ feels like an obligation to do something that you inevitably won’t enjoy even though you know you’ll be better off if you did it. I think the words you use externally and internally are powerful and can have you believing something negati...

I guess I do have a grudge dating back to my early years in school. It’s not really with anyone or anything, It’s more of an opinion widely held by the community I grew up in, where being an artist was something that was only considered to be a hobby. It certainly wasn’t considered to be something you could do as a living. Unless you wanted to be a designer or an architect. So despite having a kee...

I’ve never been one to get excited about travelling. I hate planes, confined spaces and crowds. And if I wanted to have a relaxing holiday, I definitely wouldn’t journey to another part of the world. But the very few times I have traveled, my attention has always been drawn to the creativity and artistic skill embedded in the history of other cultures. And at the times certain works were created I...

My dream home would have to include an art studio. I’ve never had an art studio so it’s an exciting new concept for me. But rather than it being this big mess of works, collected objects and art clutter, I think my art studio would be very minimalist along with my house. Because external clutter for me is a direct reflection of the clutter that’s in my head. When I think of the space it would have...

Apparently it takes 21 days to create a habit and 90 days to make something a permanent lifestyle change. So I’ve got a goal to work towards with my ‘make art everyday’ challenge that I have set myself. As my previous blog post stated I just need to start my art everyday and do a minimum of five minutes on the piece I’m currently working on. Then over time, if I only manage five minutes a day I’ll...

There are so many benefits to making art everyday. For me creating is something that I need to do for my mental health, because like so many creative people if you aren’t creating you become miserable. This can take many forms; from sketching to painting to writing a blog post, or even marketing your artwork. I have personally started a routine where I sketch or do digital illustration work everyd...

After sharing my version of art guilt on my previous blog what I didn’t expect was that virtually everyone has an opposite version of art guilt. They feel guilty when they don’t create art, not when they do. I imagine either version is potentially damaging and exposes the fact that almost all creators are in a state of guilt for spending too much time or not enough time on their art. But one thing...

The shame. The guilt. It ain’t a way for fully grown adult to behave. Surely there’s something more productive you can be doing with your time. Cleaning the house, Folding the tea towels, Grooming the Guinea Pigs or emptying the kitty litter. Surely there’s a better use of your time rather than painting, drawing and playing like some kind of child.. That’s art guilt. …Maybe if I could make money f...

Join myself and Dawn Petty as we talk about Art therapy and her broad range of traditional and digital art styles that include embracing the new landscape of NFT’s on VoiceHQ. Dawn on VoiceHQ https://www.voice.com/verset420 - Dawn on Instagram https://instagram.com/dawnpaints - Dawn on Twitter https://twitter.com/verset420?s=21&t=VkNhzFjbWMYeQz63jRG4bA

On today’s podcast I chat with NFT artist Tray Fisk about authenticity, supporting the art community around you and how to price your NFTs. We are both creating art on the new platform VoiceHQ and we talk a lot about the new and exciting space and community. We also talk a lot about Tray’s piece titled Su - https://www.voice.com/creation/100000001057467 Check out Tray Fisk on VoiceHQ - https://www...

I chat with thriving artist Patattoune about the importance of doing the work you love. The benefits and difficulties with running an Etsy art store and why we should be embracing the addictive nature of tiktok. Check out Patattoune on Instagram: https://instagram.com/patattoune?utm_medium=copy_link

In today’s podcast I chat with Darrell Merrill the nerd artist about what it’s like selling your art at markets and conventions and also about the joys and perils of doing commission work. Please check out Darrell’s Instagram page while listening to the podcast and show him some love and let him know you’re listening to the podcast https://instagram.com/dmnerdartist1962?utm_medium=copy_link

I'm starting the daily vlog again and I started off ages ago doing a one minute daily vlog and then I would compile them all at the end of the week into a seven minute podcast and then I would use all the text that I would extract from these videos to make blogs so I'd be doing a vlog blog and a podcast and I would put out about one minute every day and that seems fairly achievable so let's give i...

Good old-fashioned paper newsletters, posted in an envelope to a person's address… Who would've thought? It’s just such an amazing idea. In an age where people's emails are bombarded by junk, spam and things that just get deleted and deleted and deleted. I think sending something to someone's residential address has a real personal touch now. I know that personally I hate going to the mailbox, and...

Artists of Instagram share their tips on how to stay motivated and have a productive creative practice. To get involved in the conversation please join me on Instagram https://instagram.com/andycmarshall

In today’s podcast I talk about the many difficulties we face as artists and talk about possible ways to overcome them. To join future podcasts and discussions please check out my Instagram Stories https://instagram.com/andycmarshall

Questions asked on my YouTube sketchy livestream, while I’m illustrating the second Elijah and Crumpet kids book. To ask your questions, drop into my YouTube channel at 9:00pm ACST https://youtube.com/c/AndyMarshallForkInTheRoad

Is documenting your journey a really bad idea? Surely people will steal your ideas! Here’s my thoughts on the subject. To get involved and ask a question you can leave me a voice message on Anchor. Or tune in to my Sketchy lives 9:00pm ACST on YouTube, Twitch and Twitter.

Illustrating and chatting on my Sketchy live on YouTube 9:00pm ACST and answering questions: What’s the best content you can make to promote your artwork?

My first podcast recording during my sketchy live in our bus Milly. That is our new home and art studio. Join in and ask a question 9:00pm ACST on YouTube, Twitter or Twitch where I’ll be answering your questions while illustrating the second kids book for Elijah and Crumpet.

Today I received the first draft of the story for the second Elijah and Crumpet kids book that I’ll be illustrating. I chat about planning the book using a storyboard, the benefit of working in layers and creating a list of drawings that can be scheduled against your deadline.

I talk about deadlines and tight turnarounds for my second kids book and how I am going to manage it.

Livestreams have been proven to be a great way for artists to connect with their community. But if you are a parent of young kids how do you do it if you can’t find a babysitter or you are in lockdown with your family and you have absolutely no private time. There is actually a way, and I share it with you on the podcast